Tag: Acts 11
Remember the Word!
Scripture reading for May 20: Acts 11
“And he told us how he had seen the angel stand in his house and say, ‘Send to Joppa and bring Simon who is called Peter; he will declare to you a message by which you will be saved, you and your household.’ As I began to speak, the Holy Spirit fell on them just as on as at the beginning. And I remembered the Word of the Lord, how He said, ‘John baptized with water, but you will be baptized with the Holy Spirit.’ If then God gave the same gift to them as He gave to us when we believed in the Lord Jesus Christ, who was I that I could stand in God’s way?” When they heard these things they fell silent. And they glorified God, saying, “Then to the Gentiles also God has granted repentance that leads to life.”” Acts 11:13-18
Although Jesus had shared how the disciples were to wait for the infilling of the Holy Spirit and they had experienced the initial baptism of the Spirit on the day of Pentecost, they needed further and a deeper understanding of God’s desire for all people to received this empowerment. God sent Peter through a vision to the house of Cornelius, a Roman centurion. God had told Cornelius by an angel where to find Peter and how Peter would share a message that would bring salvation to him and his whole household. When these two people listened and obeyed, God showed up through Peter’s preaching and poured out the gift of the Holy Spirit with the evidence of speaking in tongues. Peter and his helpers were amazed!
Peter’s conclusion was that God had given these Gentiles the same gift as the disciples had received. His testimony to the church leaders about this brought initial silence as they processed this amazing event. Then they glorified God and stated their understanding that God had granted these Gentiles repentance and eternal life. Everything was confirmed by the Word of the Lord and took place as the Word of grace through Jesus Christ was preached. It was just as the Lord had said!
Have you ever had your understanding of God’s will expanded through a supernatural event? Do you believe that with God all things are possible and His Word will prove to be true? In what ways did God through the Holy Spirit help those involved in this ‘Gentile Pentecost?’
Prayer: Father God, Your great love and patience with Your people is comforting and amazing to me. Thank You for filling Your people with the Holy Spirit and bringing remembrance of Your Word to help us overcome a faulty world view. Direct me to those who You are desiring to reach and bless. Amen.
Embracing Godly change in the early church!
Scripture reading for May 19th: Acts 11
Key Scriptures for over-comers: Acts 11:1-3 “The apostles and the brothers throughout Judea heard that the Gentiles also had received the word of God. So when Peter went up to Jerusalem, the circumcised believers criticized him and said, “You went into the house of uncircumcised men and ate with them.”
The early church, as today, struggled with embracing change. Tradition and culture lead to many false assumptions that had to be worked out through the mediation of the Holy Spirit. The Jews held tightly guarded ideas about Gentiles and purity. They believed that good Jews would not associate with a Gentile or eat with them. The Jewish believers in Jerusalem were quick to judge Peter for going into Cornelius’ home and eating! Peter had to carefully explain how he came to understand that God was also saving Gentiles who would believe on Jesus Christ. The Church must be open to truth. God always loved all mankind and desires all men to be saved. But the Church must not to change God’s standards for the sake of the culture! It is only through repentance and faith in Jesus Christ that salvation is possible.
Observations for over-comers: Don’t be quick to judge God’s servants! Always seek truth and God’s word. “Let the heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad; let the sea resound and all that is in it; let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them. Then all the trees of the forest will sing for joy; they will sing before the Lord, for He comes to judge the earth. He will judge the world in righteousness and the peoples in His truth.” (Psalm 96:11-13)